To start off, I find the King Seiko 5626-7111 a.k.a the 56KS to be special in a way because it has elements that are related to its “Grand” sibling. Interestingly, the 56KS sort of has the same case style with the modern-day 44GS, which is a reinterpretation of the vintage 44GS from 1967. What’s even cooler is the fact that the 5626 movement is developed in the home of Grand Seiko, the Suwa factory! Now that’s one way to start talking about a watch. The fact that King Seiko existed as an internal competitor to Grand Seiko definitely adds to the coolness factor.
Made in 1973, this 56KS is another great example of how the Grammar of Design by Taro Tanaka elevates a watch from being just a boring Seiko. Although relatively plain when looked at from the top, I find the size contrast between the slim indices and relatively broad hands to be the standout element at first glance. Maybe it’s the fact that these indices here don’t pull off a strong diamond-like sparkle? Hence taking away the “wow” factor from it. But again, beauty is subjective after all. Besides, the best view for this watch might just be when viewed from the front. An angle where the lugs taper down beautifully without having to sacrifice the angular look of the case. That’s hot.
Which leads us to the body of this 56KS, the star of the show. A 36mm case with 10.5mm in thickness and a whole lot of character. Here, the Grammar of Design effect seems to sing the loudest in the form of large flat surfaces on both left and right sides of the case. When looked at from the top while on your wrist, you’ll notice how the mid left and right of the case reflects your skin tone. Hence, making the case appear less wide than it actually is. As a matter of fact, it looks somewhat curvy if you’re not paying enough attention. Furthermore, due to the reflection effect, the crown seems to look as if it isn’t partially shielded by the case when it actually is. Now that’s cool! Guess what’s better? When worn on my 16cm wrist, there’s essentially no overhang!
If you haven’t already noticed, what’s housed within this charming case is a Hi-Beat 5626 movement which comes with a day-date complication and hacks too. But what makes it interesting is the fact that it operates at 28800 vph instead of 36000 vph. Does it matter that it’s of a lower frequency? No. Is it cool? Heck Yes. I guess it’s just one of those geeky things that gets us enthusiasts going.
So where does this piece stand when compared against vintage Grand Seikos? Well, they’re different things after all. Honestly, I don’t think that this 56KS should be viewed as the budget friendly option compared to other King and Grand Seikos. In my eyes, this 56KS speaks for itself instead of being an alternative. Personally, I see this 5626-7111 as a piece with many interesting elements of its own, putting it in a unique position. Therefore, if you’re out there looking for a starting point to dive deeper into the world of King Seiko, this would be a great place to start.
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